If Seattle steals the Kings, are we all huge hypocrites?

Five years ago, the Seattle SuperSonics were — many folks feel — stolen away and moved to Oklahoma City. Sonics fans were dismayed that an NBA team with such rich history could be taken from them so swiftly.

(Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo)

But now, it looks as though the Sonics are coming back. But they’d be coming in the form of the Sacramento Kings, “stolen away” from the California capital and relocated to the Emerald City.

Surely, if the NBA approves the sale of the Kings to the Seattle group led by arena investor Chris Hansen, Sacramento basketball fans will hate Seattle much the way most Sonics fans hate Oklahoma City. Seattle was the victim; now it’s the villain.

Are we all huge hypocrites?

Just floating the question …

In case you missed it, Hansen confirmed on Monday morning that he has reached an agreement with the Maloof family, which owns the Kings, to acquire a majority stake of the NBA franchise. The Maloofs and the NBA also issued statements that a deal had been reached.

The purchase price was based on an overall valuation of $525 million, meaning Hansen’s group will pay about $340 million for majority ownership of the Kings, according to Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski. The purchase still requires league approval — as does any relocation out of Sacramento.

Wojnarowski, citing an anonymous source, said the NBA’s relocation committee will approve the Kings’ relocation to Seattle, and the team should be ready before the 2013-14 season. As has always been the plan, Seattle’s new team would be renamed the SuperSonics.

The new Sonics would play for two years at KeyArena until the proposed new arena, likely to be located in Sodo south of Safeco Field, is constructed.